Assessment:
Plot: The story of police sergeant Jack Furey—grappling with past war memories and struggling to make sense of a new war, trying to maintain order in a small town overwhelmed with soldiers, and attempting to piece together separate unspeakable crimes—is deeply compelling. In some respects, however, the narrative might be strengthened had it not been haunted by the specter of the 100-year-old Jack Furey.
Prose/Style: The prose is smooth and well-written, and the story is mostly clear and concise—the language leaves no doubt as to the time period or the Australian Outback location. However, there is a clinical feel to the writing that often causes the story to lack emotion and depth, and it is only during Jack's brief moments of introspection that the reader feels less detached from events.
Originality: Swap Australia for the Old West, the invading American soldiers for outlaws, and Jack Furey for a grizzled sheriff "with a past" who has seen everything, and the story could easily transform into a cookie-cutter Western. Though entertaining enough, the story's originality largely stems from the time period, location, and the hint of murder mystery that surrounds it.
Character Development/Execution: Jack is the storyteller, and this is how we see the rest of the characters—through the lens of his impatience, prejudices, and experiences—resulting in a bare-bones rendering of everyone outside himself. It is in the rare moments of Jack's introspections that we catch a glimpse that there is more behind the man than loud law and order bluster and authority.
Date Submitted: April 01, 2021
'The novel ends with a return to the current day and Jack's 100th birthday party, which probably didn't go as expected for the dreaded nursing home, and you can't help thinking went exactly as Jack would have wanted. Overall a most unusual novel, a really quick read on one level, but a thought-provoking one on many more.'
